Blog Tour With Lauren Vancouver by Linda O. Johnston

Jan 15, 2014

Hi. I’m Lauren Vancouver, and I’m the chief administrator at HotRescues, a really wonderful no-kill animal shelter in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley. Thanks to Dru for inviting me back here to blog. I’d like to tell you about my latest adventure: TEACUP TURBULENCE.

In case you’re not aware of it, HotRescues was established by my shelter’s chief benefactor, Dante DeFrancisco. Dante has made a lot of money in the pet industry because he owns HotPets, which I’m sure you’ve heard of. It’s the biggest and best chain of pet supply stores in the country.

Recently, HotPets started selling a new line of faux jewelry dog collars called HotPets Bling, and that precipitated the events in TEACUP TURBULENCE. What happened is that Dante promoted those collars by some amazing TV ads and digital billboards depicting adorable teacup-sized dogs wearing them. Though L.A. usually has too many tiny dogs available for adoption, those ads really popularized the pups and demand for them grew. I heard about a puppy mill rescue elsewhere in the country where there were too many tiny dogs available–and, yes, I found a way to get those little dogs to L.A. to find new homes, or at least some of them. I’d heard of organizations that recruit pilots of private planes to fly pets that are unadoptable in one area to someplace else where they’re in demand… and you can guess the rest.

Or at least part of it. Someone involved in the rescue of those little dogs decided to fly with them to L.A.–where she was murdered. And since my new pilot friends, who happened to work for Dante, were the primary suspects–well, with my recent successes in solving murders, I had to jump in to help them, too.

But of course I never get too involved in catching killers to take good care of the wonderful pets needing homes who currently reside at HotRescues. That’s my main focus in life, especially since my two kids are away at college. The guy I’m dating, Captain Matt Kingston of Los Angeles Animal Services, once more let me know that he’d rather I not get involved in yet another murder–but he knows me well enough to realize that, as sweet as I think his worrying is, I’m going to do what I believe is right.

I’d like to acknowledge the woman who memorializes my adventures in the Pet Rescue Mysteries. Linda O. Johnston’s an animal lover, as I am, and she does a pretty fair job of describing HotRescues and what we do–as well as encouraging others to care for homeless pets.

So go ahead and read TEACUP TURBULENCE. I hope you enjoy it.

This is the last stop on the Teacup Turbulence Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. For other stops on this tour, click HERE

You can read more about Lauren in Teacup Turbulence, the fifth book in the “Pet Rescue” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Beaglemania. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.

GIVEAWAY: Comment on this post by noon EST on January 16, and you will be entered to win a copy of Teacup Turbulence. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.

Meet the author
Linda O. Johnston writes the Pet Rescue Mysteries, a spinoff series from the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mystery series, for Berkley Prime Crime. She also writes the Alpha Force miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne, about a covert military unit of shapeshifters, as well as novels for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. And watch for Linda’s upcoming Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink. Visit her at www.LindaOJohnston.com

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I LOVE Teacup dogs, want to get one but too much money for me. Sounds like a great book, would love to read/win this

Pamela Richard
on January 15, 2014 at 10:03 am

Love the series! Love pets!

Barbara Tobey
on January 15, 2014 at 10:47 am

Great series. Eager to read the latest.

Judy
on January 15, 2014 at 11:29 am

I don’t have a pet, but if I did, those teacups sure would win my heart. I’m thinking your book would too, Linda. A lot of my senior friends have cats but one has two dogs as big as St. Bernard’s (I might be exagerating a bit but they are big). Instead of grandchildren pix on their ‘phones, it’s pix of their furry companions. Sign me up for the draw please, Dru.

I just love dogs of all kinds and currently have 2 beagles. I’m wondering if something smaller like a teacup would be more appropriate as my next dog since I’m getting older.suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

I didn’t realize that this is an ongoing series. I love books about animals, I’m adding this series to my tbr. list. Thanks for the chance to win.

Linda K
on January 15, 2014 at 3:25 pm

I am already a fan of this series, and am looking forward to reading this one, especially since I am the proud owner of toy dogs: 3 Japanese Chins, 2 of which were adopted through JCCARE (rescue organization for Japanese Chins). Thanks.